levy

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Levied p. pr. & vb. n. Levying. ] 1. To raise, as a siege. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrollment, conscription, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Augustine . . . inflamed Ethelbert, king of Kent, to levy his power, and to war against them. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority; as, to levy taxes, toll, tribute, or contributions. [ 1913 Webster ]

If they do this . . . my ransom, then,
Will soon be levied. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) (a) To gather or exact; as, to levy money. (b) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast up; as, to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc. [ Obs. ] Cowell. Blackstone. (c) To take or seize on execution; to collect by execution. [ 1913 Webster ]

To levy a fine, to commence and carry on a suit for assuring the title to lands or tenements. Blackstone. --
To levy war, to make or begin war; to take arms for attack; to attack. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To seize property, real or personal, or subject it to the operation of an execution; to make a levy; as, to levy on property; the usual mode of levying, in England, is by seizing the goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

To levy on goods and chattels, to take into custody or seize specific property in satisfaction of a writ. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. levée, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Levee. ] 1. The act of levying or collecting by authority; as, the levy of troops, taxes, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

A levy of all the men left under sixty. Thirlwall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc. “ The Irish levies.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The taking or seizure of property on executions to satisfy judgments, or on warrants for the collection of taxes; a collecting by execution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Levy in mass [ F. levée en masse ], a requisition of all able-bodied men for military service. [ 1913 Webster ]